ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi on Wednesday invited Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja to meet him today or tomorrow to fix a ‘proper date’ for the general elections.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the President informed the CEC Raja that it is up to him to fix the date for the elections after 90 days from the date of dissolution under Article 48(5) of the Constitution. is responsible of the assembly.
“As mentioned, the Chief Election Commissioner has been invited to meet the President today or tomorrow to fix a suitable date,” the letter said.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا چیف الیکشن کمشنر، سکندر سلطان راجہ، کو خط
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 23, 2023
صدر مملکت نے جنرل الیکشن کی تاریخ کا فیصلہ کرنے کیلئے چیف الیکشن کمشنر کو آج یا کل مُلاقات کی دعوت دے دی
صدر مملکت نے 09.08.2023 کو وزیر اعظم کے مشورے پر قومی اسمبلی کو تحلیل کیا، صدر کے خط کا متن pic.twitter.com/JpRXqcnHsw
The Shehbaz Sharif-led government dissolved the National Assembly on August 9, while the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies were also dissolved early to allow the electoral authority to hold elections in the country within 90 days instead of 60 days. To be given if the legislature completes its constitutional term.
However, the ECP may not be able to conduct the elections within the stipulated time as the Council of Common Interests (CCI) approved the 7th Population and Housing Census 2023, days before the dissolution of the assemblies.
The CCI meeting chaired by then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the final results of the census in which the country’s population was estimated at 241.49 million with a growth rate of 2.55 percent.
The approval of the CCI has made it constitutionally mandatory for the election watchdog to post fresh delimitations in light of the 7th Census results.
According to Article 51 (5) of the Constitution, the National Assembly seats for each province and federal capital shall be allocated on the basis of population as per the last officially published census.
Subsequently, on August 17, the ECP announced the new delimitation schedule as per the new census approved by the CCI.
According to the schedule, the notification of new delimitation of constituencies across the country will be done in December this year.
The ECP schedule stated that the new constituencies would take about four months, meaning that general elections in the country could not be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the provincial and national assemblies.
Sources told JEE News that a day ago, the polling organizing authority decided to consult all major political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), regarding the date of general elections expected early next year.
According to the sources, the political parties will be consulted separately, the consultation will be on electoral road map as well as issues related to constituencies and voter lists.
Sources added that the ECP’s meeting with political parties is expected to begin in the next few days.
Among the major parties that the election watcher will meet are Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Awami National. Party included. (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
ECP content with RCS
After receiving a briefing on the new Result Completion System (RCS) earlier this week, the ECP expressed his satisfaction over the mock exercise regarding its use.
CEC Raja presided over a meeting of the commission at its secretariat in Islamabad which was attended by members, secretaries and other senior officers.
The Commission was briefed on RCS whereby the Presiding Officer can instantly send the results to the Returning Officer through a mobile app.
Moreover, the returning officers will be able to compile the inconclusive results with quick and accurate data about the votes under this system.
